Montana LLC Cost: $35 to File Articles (2026)

Fact-checked and updated September 14, 2026.

A Montana LLC costs $35 to file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. The annual report fee is currently waived when filed between January 1 and April 15 ($35 if filed later). File on the SOS business portal or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the same $35 state fee. Optional services cost extra.

This page is for founders comparing Montana’s $35 Articles fee and the April 15 waived-fee annual-report window—useful if you are budgeting a low-cost domestic LLC.

This guide is for creating a new Montana LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Montana’s foreign-entity registration requirements before creating a second company.

Montana LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Confirm amounts on the Montana SOS fee page and the current annual-report waiver announcement on sosmt.gov.

Budget example: $35 to form plus a waived on-time annual report is among the lowest SOS paths in the country—if you file the report by April 15. Reconfirm the waiver each year on sosmt.gov. Optional 24-hour ($20) and 1-hour ($100) processing can matter if a closing date is fixed. Ordinary online filing is usually enough when you form weeks before you need the entity.

No Montana franchise tax is identified for LLCs. Statement of change for registered agent/office is listed at no fee on the SOS schedule. Montana’s $35 Articles fee plus a waived on-time annual report is unusually founder-friendly. The trade-off is remembering to file the report during the waived window every year. Keep copies of filed Articles and annual-report confirmations. Beware of unofficial “renewal” invoices that mimic SOS branding; file only through official Montana SOS channels.

Should you file on the Montana SOS portal or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you can complete Articles online and calendar the April 15 annual-report window. Choose a filing service for guided preparation. Montana’s $35 Articles fee plus a waived on-time annual report is unusually founder-friendly. The trade-off is remembering to file the report during the waived window every year. Read renewal and cancellation terms for any optional compliance product before you pay.

ZenBusiness lists Starter at $0 without a base-plan renewal. Its optional first year of Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199/year; registered-agent service is listed at $199/year (intro pricing may show about $99 for the first year—confirm at checkout). EIN and operating-agreement services are separate Starter purchases. Check the current package terms and checkout selections.

A free introductory service can become a recurring expense. Before paying, review the initial total, renewal amounts, and cancellation terms. Keep a copy of your selections. A reminder is not confirmation that a required state filing was submitted, and the state filing fee remains separate.

Can you be your own Montana registered agent?

Yes, if you maintain a Montana street address and meet SOS registered-agent rules. A member may serve when those conditions are met.

If you cannot reliably receive legal documents in Montana, use a commercial agent and compare renewal terms.

Plan addresses before filing. SOS records are public—enter accurate agent information.

Statement of change for registered office/agent is listed at no fee on the SOS schedule—still file the change promptly when details change.

How to file your Montana LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name on the Montana business search and include an LLC designator. Optional reservation is $10.
2. Appoint a registered agent with a Montana street address and obtain consent.
3. Complete Articles of Organization (add series details only if forming a series LLC).
4. File online at biz.sosmt.gov and pay $35 (plus optional expedite).
5. Confirm acceptance and calendar the annual report for January–April 15 to capture the waived fee.

How long does approval take?

Optional 24-hour ($20) and 1-hour ($100) processing are listed on the SOS fee page. ZenBusiness preparation (often 7–10 business days) is separate from Montana’s review clock. Series LLCs pay an extra $50 per series member named in the Articles. Most single-company founders file a standard LLC without series designations.

Montana LLC annual report: file by April 15 for the waived fee

Montana LLCs must file an annual report. On the SOS fee page, the fee is WAIVED for reports filed prior to April 15 and $35 afterward. The Secretary of State has publicly continued on-time waivers into 2026 and announced continuation into 2027—still verify each year.

The report updates registration information; it is not a tax return. File early in the Jan 1–Apr 15 window. Help-center materials also discuss later absolute deadlines—treat April 15 as the practical target for the $0 fee.

Example: form in 2026, then file the first annual report in the next open window by April 15 for the waived fee unless the portal instructs otherwise for brand-new entities.

SOS leadership has announced multi-year on-time fee waivers, but waivers are policy decisions—re-open sosmt.gov each January before assuming $0 forever. Filing after April 15 currently costs $35.

Foreign entities follow different annual-report timing than domestic LLCs on some help-center materials; this guide focuses on domestic Montana LLC formation.

After filing: get the business ready to operate

• Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Montana’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.
• Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. An EIN service fee pays someone to assist; it is not an IRS charge. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
• Separate business finances. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
• Check taxes and operating permissions. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
• Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly before buying a BOI filing add-on.

For a simple one-owner operation, organize these tasks into a short checklist. Where ownership, investors, or tax elections are complicated, formation paperwork alone will not resolve those decisions.

After filing, confirm Department of Revenue accounts and local licenses for your work. The SOS annual report is not a tax return.

Match insurance to the work your LLC performs

Entity formation and insurance solve different problems. Ask the insurer to identify the correct business and operations; ask clients or landlords what coverage and certificate of insurance they require. Use the relevant guide to compare coverage:

• Montana cleaning business insurance
• Montana food truck insurance
• Montana HVAC insurance
• Montana landscaping insurance
• Montana daycare insurance

Continue with the Montana business guide for the broader startup process.

Montana LLC questions before you file

What is the cheapest way to form a Montana LLC?

Articles cost $35 with the SOS. ZenBusiness Starter advertises a $0 formation service fee plus the same $35 state fee. File the annual report by April 15 while the on-time fee remains waived. Always separate state fees from any optional registered-agent or compliance add-ons you choose at checkout.

Is Montana’s annual report really free?

The SOS currently waives the fee for reports filed January 1–April 15; after April 15 the fee is $35. Confirm the live waiver each year on sosmt.gov.

Can I be my own Montana registered agent?

Yes, if you maintain a Montana street address and meet SOS rules.

Does forming an LLC give me a Montana business license?

No. Formation is with the SOS. Tax accounts and local licenses are separate.

Can I get an EIN without buying a service?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs free after the LLC is formed, if you are eligible.